Model and singer Jane Birkin, the inspiration behind Hermès’ Birkin bag, has just publically asked that the “luxury” bag be renamed after receiving the exposé into the farming and slaughter of crocodiles and alligators for the company, which revealed that live reptiles are sawn open, among other horrors.

Having been alerted to the cruel practices endured by crocodiles during their slaughter for the production of Hermès bags carrying my name …, I have asked Hermès Group to rename the Birkin until better practices responding to international norms can be implemented for the production of this bag.

Birkin bags once marked people as celebrities – or at least members of the super-rich – but soon, no one will want to be caught dead carrying one. On behalf of all kind souls in the world, we thank Ms Birkin for ending her association with Hermès, and we call on Hermès to do the right thing and stop plundering wildlife, factory-farming crocodiles and alligators and slaughtering them for their skins.

JUST IN: The Gadhimai festival in Nepal has banned animal sacrifice, putting an end to a horrific massacre that has been taking place for the past 250 years. This is a long overdue victory for animals.

Until now, every five years, the town of Bariyarpur, Nepal, played host to the world’s largest animal sacrifice. Hundreds of thousands of animals, including chickens, goats and buffalo, were rounded up and marched to their deaths at the site of the temple of the Hindu goddess Gadhimai. After the traditional beheading of up to 10,000 buffalo at the start of the “holy” festival, hundreds of men hacked away at more defenceless animals with dull blades – a painful and terrifying way to die.

Today, at last, the bloodshed has been forbidden. In a statement, the Gadhimai Temple Trust said:

The Gadhimai Temple Trust hereby declares our formal decision to end animal sacrifice. With your help, we can ensure Gadhimai 2019 is free from bloodshed. Moreover, we can ensure Gadhimai 2019 is a momentous celebration of life.

Many organisations were working to help end this atrocity, among them PETA and our international affiliates. Almost 90,000 supporters from all over the world send messages to Nepal official surging them to stop the bloodshed. Our friends over at PETA India also took to the streets of India to protest in a joint demo outside the Embassy of Nepal with the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations.

Thank you so much for being part of this victory. We’d like to congratulate all the local groups in Nepal that had been campaigning on the ground for years to end the bloodshed. Today, compassionate people all over the world can celebrate the fact that animals will no longer be hacked to death by the thousand for an archaic ritual.

Following news that a goat was killed outside a theatre in Vikarabad in the Ranga Reddy district by superstitious fans of the upcoming film Bahubali, PETA India is offering a reward of up to Rs 25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible. It should be noted that the creators of the film had nothing to do with the animal’s slaughter.

Killing an animal in a municipal area outside of a licensed slaughterhouse is an apparent violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001, which state, “No person shall slaughter any animal within a municipal area except in a slaughter house recognised or licensed by the concerned authority empowered under the law for the time being in force to do so”.

Such cruelty to an animal also apparently violates The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, which states that it is a punishable offense if anyone “mutilates any animal or kills any animal (including stray dogs) by using the method of strychnine injections in the heart or in any other unnecessarily cruel manner”.

It may also be considered a violation of section 429 of the Indian Penal Code, which makes killing or maiming an animal a punishable offense.

Will you please consider sharing this information with your readers? It may be the only way to apprehend those responsible for this heinous act.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact Inspector of Police Sri G Ravi at the Vikarabad Police Station on +91 9440627354 or at golluriravi@gmail.com.

The traumatised monkey whose kidnapping from Varandha Ghat in Maharashtra was caught on video, which then went viral, was reunited with her family by forest officials and PETA representatives today. Read about what happened to the alleged kidnappers here. And check out these photos:

Two members of the rescue team, PETA staff members Dr Ashish Sutar and Neha Singh, take bananas to entice the kidnapped monkey’s family to stick around for the reunion.

This is the kidnapped monkey before she was reunited with her family.

The kidnapped monkey reaches out to touch Neha’s finger for comfort.

Dr Sutar releases the baby monkey back to her family.

The family of the kidnapped monkey enjoys bananas during her return.

How You Can Help

Contact PETA if you witness cruelty to any animal, and document the abuse if you can. Your action can help nab culprits, save lives and keep animal families together.

The five alleged culprits who were secretly filmed kidnapping a monkey last week from Varandha Ghat (outside Pune) in Maharashtra were caught by forest officials earlier this week in Bhor, Maharashtra, after spending 10 days on the run.

PETA had reported the crime to the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, and the Maharashtra Forest Department subsequently registered a Preliminary Offence Report regarding the matter. Since then, PETA has been in constant contact with forest officials.

All five of the accused appeared in front of the Bhor Taluka Court and were sent to jail on a 24-hour judicial remand. The traumatised monkey is now under the care of forest authorities and will soon be returned to Varandha Ghat.

The incident came to light when a video went viral on social media showing men capturing a monkey in front of the animal’s helpless family members and placing her inside a Hyundai i20. The car’s Maharashtra licence plate was easily visible. PETA hopes authorities will determine whether these men were part of a larger wildlife crime racket.

Two cats up for adoption appear to be sisters and were rescued from a busy Mumbai street when they were just skin and bones. They are approximately 10 months old and are now healthy, so this loving duo are ready for cuddles with their new family. The two are inseparable and never leave each other’s side, so we are looking for a family with hearts of gold that can take both of them in. They have been vaccinated and sterilised.

Sister cats – Ginger and Bella

If you are interested in adopting one or more of these kitties, please e-mail JalajK@petaindia.org. PETA is willing to transport them within driving distance or even a one-day train ride from Mumbai at our expense.

Dr Zeeshan Ali, a programme specialist for the Washington, DC–based Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, will be embarking on a six-city tour in India to talk about the power of plant-based foods for helping to prevent and manage type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases.

He may be in your city in the next two weeks, so please take a look at the schedule below and join him for what promises to be an informative and inspiring lecture.

Eating vegan feels good on the inside and out. That’s why some of the most famous faces in film keep meat, eggs and dairy off their plates to stay fit, eco-friendly and kind to animals. And oh, does it show. Check out which veg celebs top the list of plant-based popularity:

Aamir Khan

As one of the most influential powerhouses in Bollywood, Aamir Khan knows how to instigate change. His latest move, which took place just before his 50th birthday, makes a statement about valuing one’s health – Aamir Khan now eats vegan. The producer, actor and director says that after watching a video about the 15 most common diseases and how diet can prevent them, he was convinced that going vegan was the best thing he could do for his health. They don’t call him Mr. Perfectionist for nothing.

Jacqueline Fernandez

PETA’s 2014 Woman of the Year and silver screen siren Jacqueline Fernandez is the definition of beauty, passion and compassion. That’s because she refuses to harm animals by eating meat, eggs and dairy products. And since going vegan, Jacqueline is challenging her loved ones to take the plunge for the 40 days of Lent. What a saint!

Jacqueline Fernandez

Ayesha TakiaAzmi

Ayesha’s performance in the hit thriller Wanted isn’t the only thing blowing people’s minds: She also spares animals’ lives by eating vegan, and even got her mum and sister to follow suit. The Bollywood star explains that after learning about the way animals raised for eggs and dairy are abused, confined and slaughtered, the then-vegetarian said goodbye to eatingall animal productsforever.

Ayesha Takia

Kiran Rao

Besides being a stellar producer, director and writer for cinema hits like Dhobi Ghat Kiran Rao is also vegan. Her decision to spare animal lives’, reduce her carbon footprint and be kind to animals is also good for her health. That’s why she lobbied for her husband, Aamir Khan to make the win-win transition.

Neha Dhupia

When she isn’t busy filming hits like Rangeelay or rocking a dress made of leaves, Neha Dhupia protects animals and the environment by eating vegan. That’s why the fashionable and fit filmi helped PETA launch our V-Card, which was India’s first-ever discount savings card for vegans.

Neha Dhupia

Richa Chadda

Richa Chadda isn’t just a model-turned-actor; she’s also a vegetarian-turned-vegan. After modeling a lettuce dress and becoming a mermaid for PETA’s pro-veg ads, the B-town beauty decided to shed eggs and dairy for good.

Richa Chadda

Mallika Sherawat

Known for her many starring roles in blockbuster films such as Murder, PyaarKe Side Effects and Welcome,screen queen Mallika Sherawat is also a hero to animals by being vegan. “If I had to pick the very best thing about being vegan, it’s my clear conscience”, says Sherawat, who was also crowned PETA’s Hottest Vegan in 2011.

Mallika Sherawat

Kangana Ranaut

After giving super hit films like Queen and Tanu Weds Manu Returns Kangana Ranaut besides being one of the finest actors of Bollywood. is now eating vegan. “Veganism as a way of life is deeply rooted in the Indian ethos. I switched to being a vegan and this has made a lot of difference in my life. I am very happy now.” Says Kangana